Mexico - Silver Mines Expedition

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from MH of Rosemont on 06/02/2024

Day 1
Transfer to the traditional Mexican ranch. On arrival, riders are met with a cocktail and can meet the team and get to know about the journey’s details. Enjoy a Ranchero barbecue welcome dinner with Mexican music by the light of the campfire. Accommodation glamping at the Ranch.

Day 2
After breakfast the riders will meet and be allocated the perfect horse before starting the adventure from Colomitos to Peñafiel. The route passes rural communities before reaching the foothills of the Montecillo mountains. Ascend from 1900m to the old Cardones hacienda at 2,236m, crossing changing landscapes of semi-desert terrain to the majesty of the central mountain range. There is the chance to see several ancient ruins of mines and haciendas dating back hundreds of year, at Santo Niño, a village nestled in the mountains from the times of the Spanish colony. Cross the "Cardo River" and a chance to swim in the filtered water that comes from the sacred mountain spring water, a small natural pool in the middle of the desert. The landscape is reminiscent of a western movie. Reach the ancient remains of the Cardones Hacienda with its Lienzo Charro (Mexican horse Arena) at Peñafiel. The horses will remain here for the night, while the guests will be transferred to a hotel in the heart of Guanajuato’s historic center. Guanajuato is a colonial city with beautiful buildings that contain elements from the two main cultures that created the city, indigenous and Hispanic. It was declared by UNESCO as the “Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines” in December 1988.

Additional sightseeing can be arranged - please enquire with your sales consultant.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

The horses used on this trail are mainly Quarter horses and Mexican Criollo, they are fit, responsive and willing, ranging from 15hh - 16.2hh. The tack utilised is Mexican or Western as standard, although 2 English saddles are available on request.

This trail requires a confident rider secure with all three paces - walk, trot and canter, riders will be covering 25-35km/day over 5-7 hours so a reasonable fitness level is necessary.
Depending on the group, gallops in open spaces may be proposed by the guide. There will be some narrow paths to navigate both descending and climbing.
Riders can, if they want, saddle and unsaddle their horse but this is optional and the guide is happy to do this.
The minimum age for this ride is 14 years. Riders aged 14-18 must be accompanied by an adult and a signed letter of consent from the parent/guardian must be submitted.

The weight limit for this ride is 242 lb/110 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

Accommodation on this trail is of a high standard with en-suite rooms and hot water every night. Three of the hotels are 4/5* and have spa facilities and/or swimming pools to cool off after a long day in the saddle. The hotels have been chosen specifically for their traditional feel and colonial charm.

Meals are based on regional Mexican food and include: beef, pork, chicken, eggs, fruits, vegetables, cereals, rice, milk, coffee, natural fruit juices, purified bottled water.

During the trail, most of the food is prepared by the rural communities we visit, made with fresh ingredients and hygienically prepared. In many cases with pre-hispanic ancestral recipes, showcasing some unique flavours and textures.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. If Visa’s are required the requirements can change from year to year depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate on request.

General information:

At the time of going to print visas are not required for UK passport holders, check www.fco.gov.uk or call on 0207 008 0232/0233 for up to date travel advice.

In Mexico City the UK high commission is at Rio Lerma 71, Col Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico City, Rio Lerma 71,Col Cuauhtémoc ,06500 México City. Tel: (52) (55) 5242 8500 Fax: (52) (55) 5242 8517.

The Mexican Embassy in the U.K is at 16 St George Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 1LX. Tel: 020 7499 8586 Fax: 020 7495 4035 Email: mexuk@easynet.co.uk.

This ride can be done all time of the year, as specified in the program dates. It depends on the participant’s wishes, as from January to March, cooler weather; April to June is drier and hot, from June to December, more humidity and temperate climate.
January to March: fresh (day: 17 to 23 ° C - night: 8 to 12 ° C), Rain (unlikely).
April to June: hot (Day: 25 to 40 ° C - night: from 23 to 28 ° C), Rain. Rare in June
June to September: average temperature (day: 17 to 25 ° C - night: from 12 to 20 ° C), Rainy season.
Common at the late evening
October to December: Mexican cold! (Day: 17 to 25 ° C - night: 5 to 10 ° C), Rain. Low

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

Health authorities have classified Mexico as having a risk of Zika virus transmission.

On arrival in Mexico City and other high altitude areas, you may feel a lack of energy, shortness of breath or headaches.

Drink only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.

Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in Mexico and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

Please take along sun cream and anti-allergy medicine for possible insect bites.

There are no specific health requirements in the area of the ride although do remember sun block - the ride takes place at some altitude and the sun is always stringer the higher you are. Please see your doctor for the most up to date information.
At the time of going to print visas are not required for most European and US/Canadaian citizens but do check with the Mexican embassy before travelling.

In Mexico the supply voltage is 127V. If the appliance or its power supply are not dual voltage rated, the single voltage appliance will have to be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly (unless the appliance operates at 127V).

Film and camera equipment is widely available in Leon and other towns en route but we advise to take along plenty just in case. Digital camera's can be charged at the hotels overnight with suitable adaptors (US style).

- Riding Helmet - we strongly recommend that you wear a properly fitted riding helmet of the current standard which is PAS015 or BSEN1384
- Gloves
- Jodhpurs - jodhpurs, breeches or other comfortable trousers (jeans may rub and can also be quite hot)
- Riding Boots - it is important to have correct shoes or boots for horse riding. Jodhpur or ankle boots with a rubber sole are recommended but sturdy shoes with a definite heel are acceptable (such as walking boots)
- Half Chaps - these are great when worn with ankle boots and help prevent the stirrup leathers rubbing against your legs
- Hat
- Handkerchief or bandana (for neck)
- Summer shirts
- Long sleeved shirts
- Light jacket for warm weather
- Sweater
- Waterproof jacket
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip Sunscreen
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take insect repellent and chafing cream
- Refillable Water Bottle - it's very important to drink a lot of water when it's hot, especially when doing physical activities
- Camera, spare Batteries/Chargers - an absolute must! It is also a good idea to take a camera case you can strap around your waist or onto a belt for whilst you are riding
- Visas (if necessary)
- Recommended Currency: Mexican Pesos, U.S. Dollars or Euros.
- Travel diary Guides, etc...
- Medical Card (to be delivered to the guide).

This is a 8 days/7 nights with 6 days riding, available on set dates throughout the year. Other dates are available on request for groups of 4 or more. There is also a special New Year programme available.

This ride can be confirmed for 1-3 riders if the supplement is paid by all participants (3 = 15%, 2 = 25%, 1 = 35%). This will be refunded if more book on.

2024: 17 Jan; 7 Feb; 6, 20 Mar; 21 Aug; 4 Sept; 2 Oct (FULL); 4 Dec.
2025: 22 Jan; 19 Feb; 2 Apr; 20 Aug; 17 Sep; 1 Oct; 3 Dec

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Sons of the Shaking Earth - Eric Wolf. A wonderfully readable introduction to Mexican history.

The Maya (Ancient Peoples and Places) - Michael D Coe

Aztecs: An Interpretation - Inga Clendinnen. A fascinating, thought-provoking and vividly dramatic look into the heart of Aztec society.

Distant Neighbors: A Portrait of the Mexicans - Alan Riding, is an excellent guide to understanding modern Mexico and its love-hate relationship with the United States.

So Far So God: A Journey to Central America - Patrick Marnham. A vivid account of a trip from California, through Mexico to the badlands of Central America. The title comes from the saying 'Poor Mexico! So far from God, so close to the United States.' 

Like Water For Chocolate - Laura Esquivel. This book created a huge interest in things Mexican when it was published in 1989. Set in rural Mexico at the time of the revolution, the novel manages to combine fantasy with recipes. 

All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy. A poetic tale of three young latter-day cowboys riding south of the border.

European novelists have long been attracted by Mexico. Graham Greene's 1930s travelogue The Lawless Roads and his great novel The Power and the Glory; Aldous Huxley's Beyond the Mexique Bay and DH Lawrence's burdensome The Plumed Serpent, which is intent on asking all the big questions about Mexican life.

The Mango Orchard: The extraordinary true story of a family lost and found   A young Englishman who travelled in Columbia, Guatemala and Mexico, in part to trace the fascinating story of his great grandfather's adventures in Central America a century ago. There is a great twist at the end, which we won't spoil.

Of course a mandatory copy of Lonely Plant Guide is invaluable.

Swimming in the pool, enjoy good Mexican tequila and wine (!), reading, playing cards, listening to Mexican music.

Type of vegetation you can observe: Semi-desertic area, Valles of cactus, oak and madrone, forest, wetlands.

Type of animals you can observe: Cougars, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, foxes, ringtails, Hare, Armadillos, opossums, deer, snakes, pumas and more than 100 bird species.

How can you guarantee to see animals? We cannot guarantee that we will see animals in the forest because they get frightened hearing us arriving. But our staff are highly trained in animal observation, which gives us a lot of probability that we´ll see some. In addition, during our expedition we will show several of the tracks that animals leave in their walk, and some traces. To give an idea of richness and biodiversity we have in this region.

Mexico is a vast country. The Sierra Madre and Rocky Mountains run south from the border with the US. The interior consists of an elevated plateau. Northern Mexico is dry and desert-like, while the south is mountainous jungle containing the ruins of ancient Mayan and Aztec city complexes. These indigenous civilizations are credited with many inventions including: building pyramid-temples, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, highly-accurate calendars, fine arts, intensive agriculture, engineering, an abacus calculation, a complex theology, and the wheel. Without any draft animals the wheel was used only as a toy. The only metals they apparently knew how to use were native copper and gold. The people of Mexico today are a mixture of descendants from Spanish and other immigrants, mainly Europeans, who settled in Mexico from the sixteenth century onwards, and mestizos - mixed European and indigenous ancestry, as well as the many indigenous groups. It is a nation where affluence, poverty, natural splendour and urban blight rub shoulders. It is also one of the worlds most bio-diverse countries with an incredible and colourful array of fauna and flora. Mexico is six to eight hours behind GMT and they use the metric weights and measures system, so kilometres and kilograms instead of miles and pounds. There is approximately 1.6 kilometres in a mile and 2.2 pounds in a kilogram. The international dialling code is +52.